3 John 1:9-11 I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not.… It is not Diotrephes alone whose character my text describes — it is human nature generally; it is every man whose heart is unrenewed by grace. 1. A haughty heart, a lofty look, a proud temper, ambition, spirit, vanity — these are, more or less, the characteristic marks of the natural man. No such man is content with the station in which it has pleased Providence to place him. All are for being greater than they are. Each must have his own will executed — his own humour gratified. Things must be done exactly to his taste, and every other person's will and pleasure must give way to his. 2. Whence arises this "love of the pre-eminence"? to what is it to be ascribed? To an awful ignorance of ourselves. We all entertain naturally a very high opinion of our own characters — a vast notion of our own merits. We cannot really think that we are miserable sinners whilst we are striving which shall be the greatest. 3. Is this love of the pre-eminence consistent with a state of grace? Search the Scriptures for the answer. The Bible indeed is not a levelling book. It does not sweep away distinctions. But as for men of such a spirit as Diotrephes — of a vain, proud, self-exalting spirit — the Bible passes upon them its sentence of condemnation, and gives us everywhere to understand that heaven is shut against them (Matthew 18:3; 1 Timothy 3:5). 4. But why is a love of the pre-eminence so utterly condemned in the Word of God? Wherein does the great guilt of it consist? (1) First, it is utterly unsuitable to our condition as fallen guilty creatures. (2) There is another reason why it is so utterly inconsistent with the character of a Christian to love the pre-eminence. That post of honour is preoccupied. It belongs, not to the Christian, but to the Christian's Lord — not to the saved sinner, but to that sinner's Saviour. (A. Roberts, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. |
    |